This is the Start Software/Alpha Tracker blog written by director Robin Bennett.
Alpha Tracker ois the world's leading asbestos software. Alpha Tracker is used by asbestos consultancies worldwide to analyse data about asbestos in buildings.
With a companion asbestos data capture app, Tracker Mobile, Alpha Tracker processes lab results so asbestos reports and registers can be produced.
Start Software also produces bespoke software for other industries using Alpha Anywhere and Alpha TransForm.

Friday, 26 May 2017

Before we melt in the heat and shut the office down for the UK public holiday weekend we wanted to let you know that the Summer 2017 release of asbestos software Alpha Tracker has been uploaded to our update servers.

Watch out for a full blog post next week including our usual video summary of new features and improvements, but be prepared for a big one! More than 120 improvements since Release 24 by my reckoning.

Thursday, 18 May 2017

We've had a few reports of Alpha Tracker becoming unresponsive over the last week or so, especially when accessing drop-down lists.

We think we've pinned the issue down to a recent Chrome update so you may want to try a different browser (such as IE or Edge) if you are experiencing problems. This sort of issue does happen now and again when Google or Microsoft automatically update their browsers and introduce a bug or two. They normally sort it when the next update happens.

Our support desk will be glad to advise further if you call them on 0333 301 1010 (UK) or 1300 946 310 (Australia).

RPS employ 5,000 people in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and Asia and undertake projects in many other parts of the world.
In the Australia and Asia Pacific region, their 1,000 professional and technical staff work from offices in 25 locations, including metropolitan and regional centres in high growth areas.

Monday, 15 May 2017

I'm sure you'll be aware that thousands of organisations world-wide and their PCs and servers have been affected by ransomware over the weekend. This has brought parts of the NHS in the UK to a halt and elsewhere many high profile businesses have been disrupted.

What can you do to protect yourselves and what do we do at Start Software to protect the servers we operate for our clients?

The first two new Alpha Tracker clients are (1) one of the largest energy businesses in the UK and (2) one of the largest telecoms businesses in Europe, both of whom want to use Alpha Tracker to manage the asbestos found within their building portfolios. As these projects develop I'll blog with more details about who they are and how they are using our software as both should make interesting case studies.

The final new client of the week is (3) CDM Scotland, a specialist asbestos and health & safety consultancy based in Ayr. Welcome on board CDM!

Wednesday, 10 May 2017

Specialist Alpha Anywhere developers at Start Software (Telford, UK & Adelaide, Australia) have been working with infrastructure consultants Forcecor (Brisbane, Australia) since November 2016 to develop an innovative software solution for bridge inspections.

The software incorporates desktop and mobile apps (including offline working, photo capture and mapping) to automate much of the data collection, analysis and report production process in this highly complex and specialised field.

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About Start Software

Start Software is an award-winning developer and leading publisher of asbestos software and software for asbestos consultancies.

Our Tracker, Alpha Tracker and Tracker Mobile software systems enable asbestos surveyors, asbestos consultants and asbestos consultancies to streamline their operations and improve the service they provide to their clients.